Covered Table
Anton Faistauer, 1916
My dear friends,
On this Thanksgiving Day, a day marked by a harmonious convergence of hearts and minds in the spirit of gratitude, we can find profound wisdom in the teachings of Jesus, as chronicled in John 6:25-35.
When the crowds found Jesus, their questions were rooted in the material - the time and space of his presence. But the enlightened master, Jesus, directed their attention to a deeper, more significant truth: the essence of spiritual nourishment that transcends the temporal and fleeting nature of physical sustenance.
In our journey of life, we too, are often entangled in the pursuits of material comfort, forgetting the impermanent nature of such pleasures. Our ancestors, and we, have been blessed with provisions for our physical well-being. But on this day of Thanksgiving, let us extend our hearts in gratitude beyond the temporal gifts of food and shelter, towards the imperishable teachings that nourish our souls.
Every morsel of food, every drop of water, and every breath of air is a testament to the unyielding efforts of countless beings. Farmers, workers, and nature itself, collaborate in a dance of coexistence, providing us with the essentials of life. Our hearts, filled with gratitude, should acknowledge and honour this interconnectedness.
Equally, we are beneficiaries of the spiritual teachings handed down through generations, nurtured and protected by enlightened masters, scholars, and practitioners who have sacrificed immeasurably to ensure that the light of wisdom dispels the darkness of ignorance in every heart.
In the teachings of Jesus, we are reminded not to work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life. This is a profound teaching that reminds us of the impermanent nature of physical existence and encourages us to seek the eternal – the spiritual nourishment that transcends the physical and is imperishable.
In the bountiful spirit of gratitude, let us, therefore, immerse ourselves not only in the acknowledgment of material provisions but ascend to a heightened awareness where our souls are attuned to the imperishable spiritual teachings that are the true bread from heaven.
The essence of spiritual nourishment is manifested in the teachings of love, compassion, and wisdom. We should strive to internalise these teachings, embodying them in every thought, word, and action. Every act of kindness, every word of compassion, and every thought of love is the eternal bread of life.
As we gather in the harmonious spirit of Thanksgiving, let our hearts be filled with profound gratitude for both material and spiritual provisions. This gratitude should not just be a transient emotion but should translate into a deep, unyielding desire to repay our benefactors.
We repay them by embodying the teachings of love and compassion, by being custodians of the earth that nourishes us, and by being torchbearers of spiritual wisdom. Like Jesus, who is the bread of life, let us strive to be sources of spiritual nourishment to the world. In this act of giving, in this act of returning the grace we have so abundantly received, we find the true expression of Thanksgiving.
May this day be marked by a harmonious union of hearts in gratitude, compassion, and love. May the teachings of love and wisdom permeate every soul, creating a world where material and spiritual nourishment is abundant for all beings.
Amen.